Music 109 - Beginning Music Theory through the Guitar
Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:15 in room 201 at the San Elijo Campus

Office hours scheduled from 6:00 to 6:30 in Room 201 from 2/22 to 5/25

Class 01: Jan. 25/2010 

Class syllabus: Spring 2010 M 109: MC109 Spring 2010 Syllabus 

Homework due next class Feb.1:

i) Read T Jones Theory Book pages 1 to 24;

ii) Write Music Bio based on questions found on the back of the syllabus;

Class 02: Feb. 1/2010    Homework due next class Feb.8:

i) Music Outline - started in class, complete at home if needed; The Music outline handout is found in TAB divider #1 in the binder

click here for answers to Music outline: Music Outline answers

For Part 1, print out and complete pages 17 & 18: Berkley pg17; Berkley pg18;

Topical overview: Basics of the Staff - line and space recognition: 

Read Berkley pages 9 to 16 from the next line to help with pages 17 & 18 

Berkley pg09; Berkley pg10; Berkley pg11; Berkley pg12; Berkley pg13; Berkley pg14; Berkley pg15; Berkley pg16;

  For Part 2, print out and complete pages 31 & 32: Berkley pg31; Berkley pg32 

Topical overview: Basics of Writing Notes; Guidelines for good notational skills. Open/closed note-heads and stem length

Read Berkley pages 23 to 29 from the next line to help with pages 31 & 32 

 Berkley pg23; Berkley pg24; Berkley pg25; berkley pg26; Berkley pg27; Berkley pg28; Berkley pg29; 

  iii) Theory Book binder [TB 1]: complete pages 3 to 11; TB binder answers:TB 1 answers - pg 3 to 11

iv) Complete the following Worksheets [located in the Theory Book binder behind TAB divider #2 & #3]

  Worksheet 1a [in TAB divider #2]: complete pages 1 to 3. Pages 4 to 7 of the worksheet are for reference;  

click on worksheets pdf file: worksheet 1a student version, wksheet 1a answer:worksheet 1a answers

Worksheets 1b & 1c [in TAB divider #3]: click on worksheets pdf file:worksheet 1b student version, worksheet 1c student version

 answer file pdf link click here: worksheet 1b answers, worksheet 1c answers

Class 03: Feb. 8/2010 Homework due next class Feb. 22:

i) Theory Book Binder (TB 2) pages 12 to 24;

Note: answer file added after class 04. See below for the answers to the complete section - pages 12 to 26

ii) Addendum 1a - complete all songs: Addendum 1a pdf link: Addendum 1a student version

Click on link to the right for answers to Addendum 1a :Addendum 1a answers, 

 Class 04: Feb. 22/2010

Topic update/In class activity

a)accidentals introduction. Study sheet for 5 possible realizations of a note; 

b) review of Open position guitar notation including pages 12 to 24 of binder and Addendum 1a.

Played through several Addendum 1a songs.

Homework due next class 3/1/2010:

Answers to the complete section - TB 2a & 2b (pages 12 to 26): TB 2 binder answers pages 12 to 26

 Topic update/In class activity

a) reviewed the notation from several parts of the songs in Addendum 1b:

b) Used the guitar to teach the next section of the theory book -

Finding the notes on each string - beginning and ending one the same note 12 half steps higher.

All the notes found on each string are first located by fret, written on a fret board and then notated on the staff. Each string will be represented by a staff with only Natural notes, one staff with just the sharp notes and and one staff with just the flat notes.

Homework due next class : 3/8/2010 

i) Theory Book Binder (TB 3) pages 27 to 39; TB 3 binder answers pages 27 to 39

The quiz I said was to be held tonight on March 8, will be postponed until next week March 22nd. On March 15, we will put together an outline/study guide for the quiz for you to use during the quiz.   

Class 06: Mar. 8/2010   

Topic update/In class activity

a) reviewed the notation for the notes one string at a time. Three types of notes were reviewed: Natural, sharps and Flats

b) New topic was the octave pattern, first introduced at the end of Addendum 2.  The rest of Addendum deals with finding the fret location of notes on each string one string at time, first with natural notes only and then combining accidentals and naturals.

Homework due next class : 

 i) Theory Book Binder (TB 4) pages 40 to 49; TB 4 answers binder pages 40 to 49

ii) Addendum 2: finish all pages  

Class 07: Mar. 15/2010 - Class was cancelled, sick day

Homework due next class : Here are the pdf files that you can use to practice note location and the octave locations on the neck. Try them and read the directions carefully.

Notes on the neck one string at a time: Notes per string - pg4; Notes per string - pg5;NOtes per string - pg6

Octave study sheets: Octave sheet pg37; Octave sheet pg38; Octave sheet pg39;Octave sheet pg40 ;Octave sheet pg41 

Class 08: Mar. 22/2010

Homework due next class :

Use the outline from 3/15 as the work that was due tonight and be done by the return of Spring break.

Spring break was used for everyone who needed to to catch up the work that they had not completed. 

Please have read pages 27 to 42 (which is Chapter 3) in T Jones book. You can also read the Major scale section in Aron Shearer and pages 50 to 58 in the binder. 

No new work is assigned other than the reading of those pages.

Class 09: April 5/2010

Tonight - Video on Major scales, Major scale section TB binder and intervals & scales from Shearer

Homework due next class : 

A Shearer 1 - pages 1 to 4: identifying intervals

A Shearer 2 - pages 5 to 8: major scales and Key signature writing 

TB 5 pages 50 to 58: Major scale tables, key signature writing continued, circle of fifths/fourths; TB 5 Answers for pages 50 to 58  

Class 10: April 12/2010

  In class: Study guide for scale pattern understanding; String set study guide 

Major scale intervals and the homework assignment.

Homework due next class : TB 6 various keys from pages 65 to 92: specific keys and pages are…

Key of G pages 65 & 66 (1st 3 string set)

Key of B♭ pages 65 & 66 (2nd 3 string set)

Key of A pages 65 & 66 (3rd 3 string set)

Key of A♭ pages 65 & 66 (4th 3 string set)

Key of B pages 65 & 66 (1st 4 string set)

Key of G♭  pages 65 & 66 (2nd 4 string set)

Key of C♯ pages 65 & 66 (3rd 4 string set) 

Odd numbered pages(ascending interval information) use pages to 61 & 62 in the binder specific for study help. Even numbered pages (descending interval information) use pages 63 & 64 in the binder for specific study help.  

Class 11: April 19/2010

Homework due next class : Triad spelling: 

TB binder pages 122- 124

Triad hand out - spelling and notation: Triads:spelling & notation - all keys 

Class 12: April 26/2010 

Homework due next class : 

TURN IN on MAY 3rd MID TERM THAT WAS HANDED OUT as a take home test: Spring 109 Midterm 

TB 7 Theory Book Binder: various sections on triad theory and fretboard realization

from pages 125, to 135.  

Material organized by section 125 finishes 122 to 124; 126 to 129 Triad theory,

chord voicings on the guitar neck 130 - 136

Class 13: May 3/2010

Homework due next class : 

TB 8 Theory Book Binder - Chord voicings for the I-IV-I-V-I chord progression realized on the 4 three string sets  

Addendum 3a pages 7 to 9 

 Class 14: May 10/2010

Homework due next class : 

Class 15: May 17/2010

Homework due next class : 

Class 16: May 24/2010  FINAL - CLASS MEETING TIME Starting @ 7:30